When we look at Texas, we've been pretty much preoccupied with the prospects of Barack Obama carrying the state, the chances of Rick Noriega unseating John Cornyn, or whether we can hold onto the TX-22 congressional seat. But what most of us from outside the overlook is what may be going on at the county level. But this past week, the Houston Chronicle examined local Democrats' efforts at turning Harris County, TX, into another blue oasis in a red landscape. Things look pretty good.
In the dark year of 1994, many Democrats were tossed from office in Harris, which includes the city of Houston. It's been a long road back, but the journey is well underway.
Little-known Texas organizations that support Democratic candidates are pouring money and personnel into Harris County at seldom-seen levels for the Nov. 4 election, with the help of a few wealthy statewide donors and national labor unions.
Although some of the money is sluiced to the Texas Democratic Party or other counties, the work is part of an unprecedented push to aim resources at Houston-area elections through two groups run by a Washington-based director: The Texas Democratic Trust and the Lone Star Fund.
Together they have raised about $3.3 million in the last 18 months, apart from money each candidate has collected, according to state Ethics Commission records.
In 2006, the same groups and donors helped Democratic candidates sweep out of office the Republican district attorney and Republican judges in Dallas County.
There are two key groups driving the fundaraising. They are the Texas Democratic Trust and the Lone Star Fund. I cannot find any information on the groups, but they are not alone. Help is also on the way from from Chicago.
Adding to the Democratic resources, Barack Obama's presidential campaign has indicated it will send voter registration operatives to Harris County.
One group that is available on the web is the
Harris County Democratic Party who are leading the effort. If you are interested in helping to turn Texas a little bluer in November, I urge you to do what you can and change the state from the bottom up.